Chapter 974 Ugly
Mr. Huang did not have too much doubt about his words, because he knew that Gao Zhendong was very accomplished in aircraft aerodynamic design. The China Aviation Industry Corporation used the old Gong-5 to modify the Zhan-7, and he provided a lot of guidance on the aerodynamic shape design. The theoretical data alone were dozens of pages long.

Gao Zhendong was not planning to do too many tricks with the MiG-21 at this stage. It was just an interceptor. It had to meet the speed and altitude requirements, have a good radar, be able to carry missiles, and have a similar combat radius. It would be fine as long as it could be improved a little with limited improvements and costs.

After all, in the last Air Force equipment planning meeting, among the three levels and three types decided, the MiG-21 imitation type was positioned as a pure interceptor. And Gao Zhendong knew very well how fast the Air Force equipment would develop in the next years, so it was not worth investing so much in this thing for the time being.

For a long time, our Air Force could not be on the offensive relative to the north, and we could not expand our combat radius even if it was too large. But for other directions, a smaller radius would be enough.

Moreover, the actual combat radius of interception operations is somewhat different. Interception operations are more under guidance. They fly in a high-high-high cross-section, fire the interceptor missile and leave. Dogfighting, patrolling, standby, etc. consume very little energy, and there is no need to set aside one-third of the range to convert the air combat time. Moreover, the high-high-high cross-section is the most fuel-efficient.

The combat radius of many Russian interceptors is calculated in this way: they fly high, drop missiles, and then turn around.

Mr. Huang looked at the picture drawn by Gao Zhendong, and as he read and appreciated it, he felt that although this thing looked ugly, it was uglier than the F-8, because the shape and proportion of the F-8's lower jaw air intake looked more coordinated than this one, while the one drawn by Chief Engineer Gao was a pure overbite.

But if we put aside aesthetics and only look at the functionality, this air intake ensures that the air intake volume is basically the same as that of the MiG-21. At the same time, the radar cone on top does not destroy the overall aerodynamic shape too much, and the diameter is quite large.

The forward-extending air intake lip looks a bit ugly, but it is helpful for the air intake efficiency. At the same time, this position can also ensure the air intake efficiency at large angles of attack.

The most important thing is that it doesn't seem to have much of a change to the air intake duct, except for the nose part. As long as the nose air intake lip is properly designed to ensure the air intake efficiency, there is no need to change anything in the rear part. The changes are much smaller than those on the two sides.

Taking into account the optimism of Northeast Aerospace Engine Research Institute in increasing thrust by at least 10%, it is relatively optimistic that this modification to the nose can basically maintain the original flight performance.

Thinking of this, Mr. Huang felt that this ugly nose of the plane actually looked quite good, or at least cute.

No, no, there must be something wrong with my brain. This thing is simply ugly. Mr. Huang shook his head, as if trying to sober himself up. His aesthetic conscience and technical practicality were fighting fiercely in his heart.

Fighting is fighting, but the judgment and sensitivity of technology are still there. This path can work! And the cost is relatively low.

Mr. Huang thinks this deal is a good deal as it costs money to get a large-caliber radar.

"Well, Chief Engineer Gao, let's try this route. I think it will work."

"This design may have a greater impact on the top speed, but it has little effect on the cruising speed. As an interceptor, the cruising speed is also very important."

The faster the speed, the more drastic the increase in air resistance, and the greater the impact of changes in aerodynamic shape on speed, so Gao Zhendong tends to be conservative and says that the top speed may be affected, but cruising will be fine.

Cruising speed determines how long it takes for the interceptor to reach the interception position, and top speed is not for rushing. The fuel consumption rate of the MiG-21's R-11F-300 engine in afterburner is 2.5 times that of the intermediate thrust state. In addition to the acceleration process, the actual top speed flight can only last for a few minutes, which is obviously not suitable for rushing.

"Well, but if the thrust at the Aero Engine Research Institute can really increase by 10%, I don't think it will be a big problem. Let's do it!" Mr. Huang also has his own judgment, which is basically the same as Gao Zhendong's.

"That's fine, but I think there's something that needs to be changed on this plane."

Oh, this is very serious. Mr. Huang was very alert: "Which one?"

"Must". Even when it comes to changing the air intake method, Chief Engineer Gao didn't use this word just now.

Gao Zhendong pointed to the nose of the MiG-21 line diagram on the document brought by Huang: "Ejection seat! Or the entire ejection escape system."

"Ejection seat? This ejection seat looks very well designed. In order to prevent the oncoming airflow from ejecting at high speed from harming the pilot, it is specially designed for take-away ejection. The canopy is used to protect the pilot, and the canopy is discarded only after the airflow stabilizes. It looks pretty good."

I have to say that the Russians really cared about this and thought it through, but the problem is that it went a little beyond the scope. Their later ejection seats were good, but not the one for the MiG-21F.

Gao Zhendong shook his head: "This set of actions looks good, and it seems to provide good protection, but there is a biggest problem. I just looked at the information in it. This system is too complicated, with too many links, and it is very easy to have problems. Moreover, I am relatively conservative about the Russians' automated systems. Believe me, this thing is really prone to accidents when used." This system is known as a "living coffin" in the military, and it must be changed!

Gao Zhendong's words startled Mr. Huang, not because of the explanation of the problem, but because of the last sentence. He knew that Gao Zhendong was the top automation technology expert in China, and many colleagues in his institute were still trying to read his book, but they could only say three words: "too difficult".

The judgment of such top technical experts on a specific system must be carefully considered.

"Is it really that serious?" At present, we are only digesting and absorbing the information, and have not yet started the actual debugging test. It is still not clear how this system works in use.

"Really? In this case, I suggest you import some extra ejection seats from the Russians, and place them on a simulated cockpit rocket-propelled test bench for a complete test. Do it several times. This concerns the life of the pilot, so it cannot be too cautious." Gao Zhendong's face was very serious at this moment.

The simulated cockpit rocket propulsion test bench sounds like a complicated name, but Mr. Huang knew what it was as soon as he heard it, even though he didn't know what it was before.

"Well, okay. I'll go back and make arrangements on this. If it's true, then it's a serious problem." This thing is originally the last layer of safety guarantee for the pilot comrades. If there is a problem with it, not to mention in wartime, even in normal training and patrols it may pose a serious threat to the lives of the pilot comrades.

"But if there is no cockpit protection, we have to consider how to deal with the high-speed airflow during ejection." He casually mentioned a new problem. This is a mutual discussion, not that he can't think of a solution. Since we are here, since we have found a problem, let's discuss it together.

"I think the pilot's anti-gravity suit, compensatory suit, and flight helmet can actually provide adequate protection, as long as they are fixed well enough during ejection. This aspect can be fully tested on the rocket test bench, combined with medical aspects, to be confirmed." Gao Zhendong did not make too many promises, but he made his subtext clear. In fact, most of the ejection seats that came later did not have these fancy functions.

At this point, Gao Zhendong remembered that our earlier improved ejection seats were actually mediocre. He paused, and still put forward his suggestion: "I suggest you contact the Defense Work Committee to see if you can import some Gauls or even John Bull's ejection seats to learn from. We still have a way out from Gauls and John Bull."

John Bull's Martin-Baker ejection seat is really great. If I can get one, I must copy it.

Mr. Huang laughed. Mr. Gao had a very broad mind. He even thought of the Gallic rooster and John Bull.

"Okay, let's talk about this with the Defense Industry Committee. Mr. Gao, you are the founder of the application of wing-body fusion technology in China. Do you think it is appropriate for our aircraft to use this technology?"

This question also interested him a lot. After all, the benefits of the wing-body fusion of the Attack-5 and the Combat-7 were visible to the naked eye.

Gao Zhendong nodded and shook his head: "It depends on the progress. If it can be copied in time, then it can be used. If it delays the progress too long, I suggest not to use it."

Not necessarily? This is actually a bit beyond Mr. Huang's expectation. Generally, the founder of a new technology tends to promote his technology as much as possible.

"But in that case, the range of this MiG-21 is really..." To be honest, even if the requirements for the combat radius are not high, the combat radius of the MiG-21 is still a bit ugly, especially the low-low-low combat radius of serious air combat, which is indeed not very good.

Even if he is making an interceptor, Mr. Huang hopes that it will have more functions and be able to take into account other combat missions.

"If the wing-body fusion is not completed in time or the effect is not good, we have other ways." Gao Zhendong said. After that, he opened the MiG-21 line drawing brought by Mr. Huang.

"Boss Huang, look here. This wing fuel tank has the potential to be expanded. Let's put more fuel in the wing..."

Mr. Huang looked in the direction of his hand, and after careful consideration for a while, he nodded: "Well, there is indeed potential here..."

At this moment, he was surprised and convinced. Mr. Gao had only been watching for a while, and while he was chatting and watching, he had actually found the potential of the original design. This ability was really amazing.

You have to know that places that look empty on the line diagram may actually be equipped with equipment, which cannot be seen on the line diagram. General Gao can tell there is potential there just by taking a few glances. This requires a very deep understanding of fighter jet structure.

(End of this chapter)